IHC orders transfer of Al-Azizia, Flagship Investment cases against Sharifs to other judge

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court on Tuesday has ordered to shift other two graft cases against Sharif family to other judge of the Accountability court.

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Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif had filed petition before Islamabad High Court seeking the transfer of Al-Azizia and Flagship investment references to other judge, contending that the arguments (defense) in all three references are same.

A two-member bench of the IHC, comprising Justice Mian Gul Hassan and Justice Amir Farooq, directed the transfer of the cases on Nawaz Sharif’s plea.

Judge Muhamamd Bashir had announced the verdict in Avenfield reference gioving 10 years jail sentence to Nawaz Sharif for failing to provide money trail about Sharifs London’s flats.

The trial against the Sharif family commenced on September 14, 2017.

On July 6, after four extensions in the original six-month deadline to conclude all three cases, the court announced its verdict in the Avenfield reference.

Nawaz and his sons, Hussain and Hasan, are accused in all three references whereas Maryam and Safdar were accused in the Avenfield reference only.

The two brothers, based abroad, have been absconding since the proceedings began last year and were declared proclaimed offenders by the court.

On July 10, the Supreme Court granted another six-week extension for Accountability Court-I Judge Mohammad Bashir to conclude the remaining corruption references against Nawaz and former finance minister Ishaq Dar.